Lasting machine



Dec. 1, 1942. r F. c. EASTMAN 2,303,342

LASTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l 10 5o 1m 19a WqberAdhncg Wipe r Closing Upwipe Petara'er MENU? "hdlerfiztu'...

Dec. 1, 1942. F. c. EASTMAN 2,303,342

' LAS'I'ING inflame Filed oct. 28, 1941 AWE/V727? 4 Mam Patented Dec. 1,1942 UNITED STTES 'itl'i OFFICE LASTING MACHINE Application October 28,1941, Serial No. 416,829

43 Claims.

This invention relates to lasting machines, and is herein illustrated asapplied to a machine which, except as hereinafter noted, is generally ofthe same construction as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No.2,160,846, granted on June 6, 1939, on an application of mine and A. F.Pyms. That machine is a power-operated machine especially designed foruse in lasting the toes of welt shoes. It is to be understood, however,that the invention is not limited to machine organizations of thatparticular character or to machines for lasting shoes of that particularkind.

An object of the invention is to provide, in combination withtoe-lasting wipers, improved means for controlling the upper in suchmanner that it will be lasted tightly over the last and over an insol onthe last and will be free from any wrinkles such as would be visible inthe finished shoe. To this and other ends, the machine herein shownincludes a member, hereinafter referred to as a retarder, which clampsthe marginal portion of the upper on the wipers and cooperates with thelatter to apply a pull to the upper while spreading its marginal portionoutwardly to prevent any prominent wrinkles from forming in the courseof the lasting operation. As herein illustrated, this retarder and themeans provided for controlling it are substituted for the grippers andtheir operating mechanisms used for pulling and controlling the toe endof the upper in accordance with the disclosure of the abovementionedLetters Patent. As one of its features, theinvention provides novelmeans for so controlling th retarder as to vary its pressure on theupper in the lasting operation. In the construction shown the retarderis pressed on the upper by a spring as the wipers wipe it firstheightwise of the last and then inwardly over the insole, and combinedwith this spring is frictionally acting meansv which supplements theforce of the spring to increase the pressure of the retarder on theupper in th wiping of the upper heightwise of the last and thenpartially counteracts the force of the spring to reduce th pressure andthus avoid any danger of displacing the margin of the insole as theupper is wiped inwardly. Preferably, as illustrated, the upper issubstantially released from the pressure of the retarder before thewipers complete their inward movements to press its margin against a lipon the insole. As another of its features, the invention provides meansfor adjustably varying the time of such release, or the length of timethat the retarder is effective on the upper. An advantageouscharacteristic of the construction shown, moreover, is that without suchadjustment the control of the retarder-varies in accordance with thethickness of the upper materials, so that on thickmaterials the retarderis effective longer than on'thin materials.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the retarder is asubstantially U-shaped member for controlling the upper at the end andthe sides of the toe, this member being supported by the ends of itsarms, in a location comparatively remot from the end of the toe, forswinging movements heightwise of the last, and it is pressed on theupper and controlled in the manner above described by a member which ismoved 'heightwise of the last into engagement with it at the end of thetoe. The retarder is, moreover, initially inclined heightwise of thelast relatively to the wipers and becomes eilective on the upper firstat the end' of th toe, thereafter swinging toward parallel relation tothe wipers as the latter are moved heightwise of the last. In order toadvance the time when the retarder becomes effective to press the upperon the wipers at the sides of the toe as the upper is wiped heightwiseof the last by the wipers and to increase its effectiveness in thoselocations, the ends of its arms are supported by means which moves themheightwise of the last toward the wipers in response to frictional dragof the upper on the portion of the retarder at the-end of the toe.Further novel features. of the invention are to be recognized in thorganization thus provided. In accordance with still another feature,the retarder is supported on an insole-engaging device with which themachine is provided for positioning the, shoe and Which'is detachable topermitv different devices to be used in operating on shoes of differentstyles or sizes, 50 that the retarder may be detached with this deviceand replaced by another retarder of the appropriate shape along withanother such insoleeengaging device.

The above and other features of the invention, including various noveldetails of construction and combinations of parts, will now be moreparticularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings andthereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in right-hand side elevation of the upper portion of amachine in which th invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation of a portion of the structure shownin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View in front elevation of a portion of the structure shownin Fig. 1

Fig. 4 is a view partly in right-hand side elevation and partly invertical section, showin mechanism provided for purposes of the presentinvention in its relation to other parts of the machine prior to thetoe-lasting operation on a shoe;

Fig. 5 is mainly a plan view showing the wipers, the retarder and partsassociated therewith as they appear when positioned as in Fig. 4,certain parts being shown in section;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views of a portion of the structure shown in Fig.4, showing the parts as they appear at different times in the lastingoperation; and

Fig. 9 is a cam chart illustrating the time relation between the controlof the retarder and the movements of the wipers,

As hereinabove suggested, the invention is illustrated as embodied in amachine constructed substantially as disclosed in the previouslymentioned Letters Patent, except that the upperpulling grippers andtheir operating mechanisms have been dispensed with and certain minormechanical changes, which it is unnecessary to describe in detail, alsohave been made in order properly to control certain parts which wereheretofore controlled by the gripper-operating means. The machine isprovided with wipers 2 which, as heretofore, are advanced and closed toembrace the upper about the toe end of the last and are swung upwardlyto wipe the upper heightwise of the last, after which they are furtheradvanced and closed to wipe the marginal portion of the upper inwardlyover the feather of a welt shoe insole on the last and against a lip onthe insole. The lip is supported against the inward pressure of thewipers around the end and along the sides of the toe by a member 4 whichalso serves as a holddown member in engagements with the bottom face ofthe insole and determines the position of the last and shoe heightwiseas Well as lengthwise and laterally in the lasting operation. Thismember is mounted on a support '5 from which it is readily detachable topermit differently shapedmembers to be used in operating on shoes ofdifferent styles or sizes/ The means for positioning and retaining themember 4 on its support 6 and" for releasing it to permit it to bedetached from the support differs somewhat from the disclosure of theabove-mentioned Letters Patent. For this purpose the support 6 isprovided with two pairs of segmental lugs 8 (Fig. 5) which extenddownwardly into holes [0 in the member 4 and thus prevent movement ofthis member in any direction lengthwise or widthwise of the shoe. Themember 4 is detachably held in the position determined by the lugs 8 bylatch mechanism comprising a slide l2 movable in directions lengthe wiseof the shoe in a T-slot formed in the support 6 and provided withfingers l4 which extend downwardly between the lugs 8, these fingersbeing so formed as to project under portions of the member 4 in recessesformed in this member, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The slide I2 isprovided with a knob l6 by means of which it may be moved forwardly torelease the member 4 against the resistance of a spring 18 which ismounted in a recess in the knob and is held in place by a screw 20threaded in the support 6. After a shoe has been presented by theoperator in the position determined by the member 4 it is clampedagainst this member by a toe rest 22 which is moved upward shortly afterthe starting of the power operation of the machine. The shoe is furthercontrolled in the lasting operation by a heel rest 24 (Fig. 1) which ismoved rearwardly 7 into engagement with its heel end.

For purposes of this invention the machine is provided with a member 26,herein termed a retarder, by means of which the marginal portion of theupper is clamped on the wipers, so that the wipers and the retardercooperate to apply a pull to the upper to assist in lasting it tightlyover the toe end of the last and the edge of the insole. Additionallythe retarder serves, by spreading the margin of the upper outwardly overthe wipers, to control the margin in such manner as to prevent in thelasting operation the formation of any wrinkles which would be visiblein the finished shoe, The retarder 26 in the construction herein shownis a substantially U- shaped member formed of substantially rigid wireand is supported on the detachable holddown member 4, so that thismember and the retarder may be detached as a unit to permit thesubstitution of a differently shaped member and a corresponding retarderfor use on shoes of a different style or size. The retarder is arrangedto clamp the upper on the wipers around the end and along the sides ofthe toe and has the end portions of its forwardly extending arms offsetsomewhat upwardly heightwise of the shoe relatively to the portions ofthe arms which clamp the upper on the wipers at the sides of the toe.The ends of the arms are bent inwardly and extend through holes providedin the two arms of a U-shaped holder 28, the ends of the arms of thisholder being pivotally mounted on studs 29 fast on upwardly extendingarms of a U-shaped bracket 30 which is secured to the lower face of ashelf extending forwardly from the holddown member 4. The upwardlyextending arms of the bracket 39 have outwardly extending lips 32arranged to overlie the portions of the retarder which are adjacentthereto. It will thus be seen that the retarder 26 is mounted on theholder 28 for swinging movements heightwise of the shoe relatively tothe holddown member 4, and that the holder 28 also may swing more orless heightwise of the shoe on the bracket 30, carrying with it the endsof the arms of the retarder. The function of the means thus provided forsupporting the retarder on the member 4 will be more particularlyhereinafter explained.

The retarder 26 is pressed down on the upper and is controlled in thelasting operation by mechanism shown particularly in Fig. 4. Thismechanism includes a bar 34 which is pivotally supported substantiallymidway between its opposite ends on an arm 35 mounted to swing about arockshaft 38 supported in bearings on a head casting 40 (Fig. 1) on theframe of the machine. By swinging movements of the arm 36 the bar 34 ismoved downwardly into engagement with the retarder 26 at the end of thetoe to press it on the upper and is later moved upwardly away from.theretarderl these movements the bar 34 is fur her guided an controlledby an arm 42" which; is; pivotally connected to its up end and is,mounted for swinging movements on a lug 44' formed on a. plate 48(Fig. 1) which is secured: to the. head casting 4t. Integral with the.arnilv 36. is another arm 48' adjustably connec ed by a spindle so to anarm 52 which is tegral with the upper pa t 54 f a w pa t clamp. 56embracing a friction ring 58 on the rockshaft. 38,, the ring being heldin fixed relation to the rockshaft by a pin Bil threaded in therockshafi t and. extending; through a hole in the ring, The clamp. 56has a lower part 62 connectcd to the upper part 54. by a link 64.Pivotlly mounted at; one end on the upper part 54 is a level 66connected; midway between its opposite ends to the lower part 612' by alink 68. The other end of: the, lever 66 is connected to the lower endof a spting "3 the upper end of which is connected to one arm of a lever12 (Fig. 2) pivotally mounted at E4 on the plate 46. By swinging thislever the tension of the spring may be. varied, the lever being providedwith a springcontrolled pin arranged to enter any one of a plurality ofholes 78 in the plate 46 to retain the lever in adjusted position. Itwill be evident that the spring "NJ tends by its action on the lever 66and the link 63 to tighten the two-part clamp 56' on the friction ring58 and also to turn the clamp about the axis of the rockshaft 38 andthereby to move the bar 34. in a downward direction, Initially, however,such turning of the clamp is prevented by engagement of the pin 60 with,a shoulder 8 on the lower part 62 of the clamp, as illustrated in Fig.4, the bar 34 being held by. the pin in an upraised position away fromthe retarder 25. It is only, therefore, in response to turning movementof the rockshaft 38 in a counterclockwise direction, as the parts areviewed inFig. 4, that the spring 19 is permitted to impart downwardmovement to the bar 34, The rockshaft is automatically controlled in thepower operation of the machine by a cam 82 (Fig. 1) the periphery ofwhich engages a roll 84 mounted on one arm of a bell-crank lever 85 theother arm of which is connected by a link 88 to an arm 90 fast on therockshaft 38. A spring 92 connected to the bell-crank lever 86 holds theroll 84 at all times in engagement with the cam and serves whenpermitted by the cam to turn the rockshaft 38 in the above-mentionedcounterclockwise direction.

The above-described downward movement of the bar 34 into position tocontrol the retarder in the lasting operation takes, place prior, to theupwiping action of the wipers 2 on the toe end of the upper. After theWipers in their upward movement have arrived in position to. clamp theupper against the retarder controlled by the bar 34, they cooperate withthe retarder as they are moved farther upwardly to apply a pull to theupper as it is being wiped heightwise of the last. In this operation thebar 34 is lifted by the pressure of the retarder on its lower end,causing the clamp 56 to turn about thefriction ring 58 against theresistance of the spring l'il. this movement of the clamp beingpermitted by a slot 94 provided therein through which the pin 60extends, the friction between the clamp and the ring 58 uppl m nt theforce. of the spring it in resi in the upward oveme t o e bar 34 andtherefore increases the iorce W th which the retarder is pressed on theupper. When the wipers It will be evident that in this operation wipethe margin of the upper inwardly over the insole the retarder is socontrolled as to, apply less pressureto-the upper than during the,greater portion of; the upw-iping operation, thus avoiding any dangerthat the force, applied to the, upper by the, wipers will displace themargin of the insole, For this. purpose, when the wipers have n arlyarrived at th limit of their up ping moyement, the cam-1 .2 begins toturn the rockshafit 3.8. in. a clockwise direc ion (Fig. 4,) causin thering 58 by frictional en g ment wi h the clamp 56 partially-to.counteract the force of the prin 10. The. reduced pressure of the retarn the. pper is hus con inued a th wip be inv to wipe the margin o the.ppe inw rdly. Before the wipers have c pl ed t e nw d wiping movem ntsthe rain 9 rr ves in p i i n a ain to. en a e th shoulder 0 o t clamp 56and then acts.- positively on the lamp t lift the bar 34 and re ease t ema n o e pp r f m h pressure oi e r tarde Th pe mi s h margi of; t eupper to p n upwa d y s the wipers comple e th i inwa d mov m n thatthe. mar in is: in b tte p si i n to be t m d at a la er sta e n t e mnuf ctur f t sh han if t were held o p ad over the wipers until the endof their inward movements. Continned turning of the rockshaft 38 raisesthe bar 34 to it. itia os tion.

Refe has bee m d o the a at t e arm 48 connected to the bar 34isadjustably conneste by the spin l to e a m 52 f the clamp 56 spindle isswiveled in a trunnion block 9.6 pivotally mounted on the arm 48 and isthreaded in a trunnion block 98 pivotally mounted on the arm 52.Accordingly, turning of the spindie by means of a hand wheel I00 fastthereon servesto swing the arms 48 and 36 and thus to loweror raise thebar 34 while the clamp 56 is stationary. The purpose and effect of suchan adjustment is to vary the length of time in the lasting operationthat the bar 34 is efiective to press the retarder on the upper. If thebar is adjusted, for example, in a downward direction, it will move theretarder to a lower position in response to the, first turning movementof the rockshaft 38 and, accordingly, the retarder will be pressed onthe upper a greater length of time in the upwiping operation. The bar34, therefore, will be lifted a greater distance in the upwipingoperation and the shoulder 80 of the clamp 56 will be carried farther;away from the pin than if such an adjustment had not been made. Byreason of the greater space thus provided between the-shoulder and thepin and the consequent provision for more lost motion, the rockshaft 38will thereafter have to move farther in a clockwise direction befiore;the pin meets the shoulder, and, accordingly, the lifting of the bar 34to release the pressure on the upper will take place later in the courseof the inward wiping movements of the wipers than if the adjustment hadnot been made. Conversely, an; adjustment of the bar 34 in an upwarddirection will serve to reduce the length of time that the retarder ispressed on the upper in both the upwiping and overwiping operations. Itwill be further evident that, the adjustment of the bar remaining thesame, the retarder will be pressed on the upper longer in both thoseoperations the, greater the thickness o he pp r ma eri ls- The manner ofoperation of the machine, in so far as it is of interest with referenceto the present nvention; toll-now be efly su m r ed a d the action orcerta n p rts. i l b d c ibed in greater detail. Before a shoe ispresented to the machine the retarder 2B normally rests in an inclinedposition under the influence of gravity on the studs 29 which areextended for that purpose, the holder 28 being swung upwardly as far aspermitted by the outwardly extending lips 32 of the arms of the bracket38. The shoe is presented by the operator in the position determined byengagement of the member 4 with the bottom face and the lip of theinsole with the marginal portion of the upper around the toe inclinedoutwardl from the last so that it will later overlie the toe wipers 2.As the shoe is thus presented, engagement of the upper with th retardermay lift the latter slightly, swinging it upwardly about its connectionwith the holder 28, as indicated in Fig. 4. Shortly after the startingof the power operation of the machine the toe rest 22 is moved upwardlyto clamp the shoe against the member 4, and at a predetermined time alsothe heel rest 24 is moved into supporting engagement with the heel endof the shoe. Early in the cycle of operations of the machine the Wipers2 are advanced and closed about the toe end of the shoe into positionsto render them properly efiective in the wiping of the upper heightwiseof the toe and are swung upwardly to perform this operation on theupper. As indicated on the cam chart (Fig. 9) this upwiping operationtakes place between 95 and 185 of the cycle. Prior to the beginning ofthe upwiping operation, however, the rockshaft 38 is turned in acounterclockwise direction (Fig. 4) to permit the spring 10 to turn theclamp 56 alsoin that direction and thereby to impart downward movementto the bar 34 which controls the retarder 2 6 in the lasting operation.The frictional action of the ring 58 on the clamp also assists in thusturning the clamp. This downward movement of the bar 34 takes placebetween 30 and 80 of the cycle and therefore terminates before theupwiping action of the wipers begins. Near the end of its movement thebar engages the retarder and depresses it, for example, to the positionillustrated in Fig. 6, the limit of the downward movement of the bar andof the retarder being variable as determined by adjustment of thespindle 50, as hereinbefore explained. The retarder is, therefore, heldby the bar in position for the portion thereof which is located at theend of the toe to clamp the margin of the upper outspread on the wiperswhen the latter in their upwiping movement arrive in the positionillustrated, for example, in Fig. 6. Thereafter, as the wipers are movedfarther upwardly, they cooperate with the retarder to apply a pull tothe upper in a direction heightwise of the last. the retarder beingswung upwardly about its connection with the holder 28 to a positionmore nearly parallel to the top faces of the wipers. In this operationthe bar 34 is forced upwardly by the retarder and acts to turn the clamp56 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4) about the friction ring 58 againstthe resistance of the spring 10, the friction'between the clamp and thering serving in addition to the spring 10 to resist this movement andtherefore serving to increase the pressure of the retarder on the upper.In the upwiping operation the marginal portion of the toe end of theupper slips more or less inwardly toward the last between the wipers andthe retarder and thereby exerts a frictional drag on the retarder at theend of the toe with a tendency to move it in a heelward direction. As aresult of this action of the upper on the retarder the inclined holder28 is swung downwardly about the studs 29 and thereby carries theportions of the retarder at the sides of the toe downwardly toward thewipers while assisting in bringing them into positions substantiallyparallel to the top faces of the wipers, as illustrated in Fig. '7. Inthis manner the retarder is rendered effective to clamp the upper on thewipers at the sides of the toe toward the end of the upwiping operation.In the final portion of the upwiping operation the retarder may belifted bodily by the wipers until its arms engage the lips 32 of thebracket 30, as illustrated in Fig. 8.

When the wipers have arrived substantially in the position illustratedin Fig. '7, the rockshaft 3B begins to turn reversely in a clockwisedirection (Fig. 4). As illustrated by the cam chart (Fig. 9) thismovement of the rockshaft begins at of the cycle, whereas the upwipingmovement of the wipers terminates at of the cycle. During the finalportion of the upwiping operation, therefore, the turning of therockshaft causes the ring 58 to act frictionally on the clamp 56 with atendency to turn it against the resistance of the spring 70, thuspartially counteracting the force of the spring and reducing thepressure with which the retarder is held against the upper by the bar34. This reduction of pressure continues as the wipers begin, at 135 ofthe cycle, to wipe the mar-gin of the upper inwardly in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 8, until such time as the pin 60 again engages theshoulder 88 of the clamp 56. Thereafter, in response to further turningof the rockshaft, the bar 34 is lifted by the action of the pin 60 onthe clamp, thereby releasing the upper from the pressure of theretarder. Fig. 8 illustrates the positions of the parts when the bar 34thus starts to leave the retarder, but as herein before explained thetime of such release of the pressure may be varied by turning thespindle 58. By reason of the reduction of the pressure on the margin ofthe upper near the end of theupwipe and at the beginning of the overwipeinsurance is afforded against danger of displacement of the margin ofthe insole by the force of the wipers on the upper. By releasing themargin of the upper substantially from pressure before the completion ofthe overwiping operation the margin, as hereinbefore explained, ispermitted to spring upwardly more or less as the wipers continue theirinward movements, so as to assume a better position for a laterupper-trimmlng operation than if it were clamped firmly aga nst the topfaces of the wipers until the completion of the overwiping operation.After the release of the pressure on the upper the bar 34 is movedupwardly to its initial position by continued turning movement of therockshaft 38. The remainder of the cycle of operations of the machine,as far as the wipers are concerned, is substantially as disclosed in thepreviously mentioned Letters Patent except that, as indicated by the camchart, the wipers receive a short downward movement to bring greaterpressure to bear on the overwiped margin of the upper just before themachine comes to a stop at of the cycle topermit the operator to beginthe toewiring operation, instead of being moved upward a short distanceat that time as in the earlier construction. When the machine is againstarted the wipers are lifted to permit the binder wire to be drawnproperly inward under them in a manner similar to the disclosure of theabovementioned Letters Patent.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a lasting machine, Wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last into lasted position, a retarder for clamping the upperon the wipers in the wiping operation, mechanism for controlling saidretarder, a spring arranged to act through said mechanism to press theretarder on the upper, and means arranged to act directly on saidmechanism to vary the pressure of the retarder on the upper in thewiping operation while the pressure is maintained by said spring.

2. In a lasting machine, wipers for Wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last into lasted position, a retarder for clamping the upperon the wipers in the wiping operation, mechanism for controlling saidretarder, a spring arranged to act through said mechanism to press theretarder on the upper, and automatic means arranged to act directly onsaid mechanism first to increase the pressure of the retarder on theupper and thereafter to reduce said pressure in the course of the wipingoperation while the pressure is maintained by saidspring.

3. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over an insoleon the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers, mechanismfor controlling said retarder, a spring arranged to act through saidmechanism to press the retarder on the upper as the upper is wipedheightwise of the last and inwardly by the wipers, and power-operatedmeans arranged to act directly on said mechanism to reduce the pressureof the retarder on the upper when the wipers have substantiallycompleted the wiping of the upper heightwise of the last and to continuesuch reduction of pressure as the wipers begin to wipe the upperinwardly.

4. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over an insoleon the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers in thewiping operation, a device for controlling said retarder, a springarranged to act through said device to press the retarder on the upper,and mechanism arranged to act directly on said device first tosupplement the force of said spring and thereby to increase the pressureof the retarder on the upper in the wiping of the upper heightwise ofthe last and thereafter partially to counteract the force of the springand thereby to reduce said pressure while the pressure is stillmaintained by the spring.

5. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last into lasted position, a retarder for clamping the upperon the wipers in the wiping operation, a device for controlling saidretarder, a spring arranged to act through said device to press theretarder on the upper, and means arranged to act frictionally on saiddevice to vary the pressure of the retarder on the upper in the wipingoperation While the pressure is maintained by said spring.

6. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over an insoleon the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers in thewiping operation, a device for controlling said retarder, a springarranged to act through said device to press the retarder on the upper,and means arranged to act frictionally on said device to increase thepressure of the retarder on the upper in the wiping of the upperheightwise of the last and to reduce said pressure preparatory to thewiping of the upper inwardly while the pressure is still maintained bysaid spring,

7. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over an insoleon the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the Wipers in thewiping operation, a device for controlling said retarder, a springarranged to act through said device to press the retarder on the upper,and power-operated means arranged to act frictionally on said device andmovable partially to counteract the force of said spring on the retarderas the upper is wiped inwardly by the wipers.

8. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last into lasted position, a retarder for clamping the upperon the wipers in the wiping operation, a spring for pressing saidretarder on the upper, and mechanism including members relativelymovable in frictional engagement with each other in the wiping operationto vary by such frictional engagement the pressure of the retarder onthe upper while the pressure is maintained by said spring.

9. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over an insoleon the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers in thewiping operation, a spring for pressing said retarder on the upper, andmechanism including members relatively movable in frictional engagementwith each other in predetermined time relation to the operation of thewipers first to increase and thereafter to reduce by their frictionalengagement the pressure of the retarder on the upper while the pressureis maintained by said spring.

10. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last into lasted position, a retarder for clamping the upperon the wipers in the wiping operation, a device mounted for turningmovement to press said retarder on the upper, .a spring for thus turningsaid device, and a member also mounted for turning movement and arrangedto act by frictional contact with said device to vary the pressure ofthe retarder on the upper in the course of the wiping operation.

'11. In a. lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over an insoleon the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers in thewiping operation, a device mounted for turning movement to press saidretarder on the upper, a spring for thus turning said device, a memberalso mounted for turning movement and arranged to act frictionally onsaid device, and power-operated means for turning said member inpredetermined time relation to the operation of the wipers to cause itby frictional contact with said device to reduce the pressure of theretarder on the upper while the pressure is maintained by said spring.

12. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last into lasted position, a retarder for clamping the upperon the Wipers in the wiping operation, a friction member mounted forturning movement, a clamp applied tosaid friction member and alsomounted for turning movement to press the retarder on the upper, aspring for turning said clamp thus to press the "retarder on the upperand for also holding the clamp tightly applied to said friction member,and means for turning said member to cause it by its frictional contactwith the clamp to vary the pressure of the retarder on the upper in thecourse of the wiping operation.

13. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last into lasted position, a retarder for clamping the upperon the wipers in the wiping operation, a device movable to press theretarder on the upper, a spring for thus moving said device, andmechanism arranged to hold said device initially retracted against theresistance of the spring and movable to release it to the action of thespring, said mechanism including a member arranged for frictionalcontact with said device to increase by such contact the pressure of theretarder on-the upper in the wiping operation.

14. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last into lasted position, a retarder for clamping the upperon the wipers in the wiping operation, a device movable to press theretarder on the upper, a spring for thus moving said device, andmechanism arranged to hold said device initially retracted against theresistance of the spring and movable to release it to the action of thespring, said mechanism including a member movable in frictional contactwith said device to reduce by such contact the pressure of the retarderon the upper in the course of the wiping operation while the pressure ismaintained by the spring.

15. In a lasting machine, toe-lasting wipers movable heightwise of alast and movable thereafter to wipe the marginal portion of an upperinwardly over an insole on the last, a retarder for clamping the upperon the wipers to apply a pull to the upper as the wipers are movedheightwise of the last and thereafter to control the upper as it iswiped inwardly by the wipers, a spring for pressing the retarder on theupper, and mechanism including members relatively movable in frictionalengagement with each other in response to the movement of the wipersheightwise of the last to increase by such frictional engagement thepressure of the retarder on the upper.

16. In a lasting machine, toe-lasting wipers movable heightwise of alast and movable thereafter to wipe the marginal portion of an upperinwardly over an insole on the last, a retarder for clamping the upperon the wipers to apply a pull to the upper as the wipers are movedheightwise of the last and thereafter to control the upper as it iswiped inwardly by the wipers, a spring for pressing the retarder on theupper, mechanism including members relatively movable in frictionalengagement with each other in response to the movement of the wipersheightwise of the last to increase by such frictional engagement thepressure of the retarder on the upper, and means for effecting relativemovement of said members partially to counteract the force of saidspring and thereby to reduce the pressure of the retarder on the upperin the course of the lasting operation.

17. In a lasting machine, toe-lasting wipers movable heightwise of alast and movable thereafter to m'pe the marginal portion of an upperinwardly over an insole on the last, a retarder for clamping the upperon the wipers to apply a pull to the upper as the wipers are movedheightwise of the last and thereafter to control the upper as it iswiped inwardly by the wipers, a device for controlling said retarder, aspring arranged to act through said device to press the retarder on theupper, a member arranged to act frictionally on said device in responseto the movement of the wipers heightwise of the last to increase thepressure of the retarder on the upper, and means for moving said memberin frictional engagement with said device partially to counteract theforce of said spring on the retarder as the upper is wiped inwardly bythe wipers.

18. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over an insoleon the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers as theupper is thus wiped heightwise of the last and inwardly over the insole,and automatic means for reducing the pressure of the retarder on theupper when the wipers have substantially completed the wiping of theupper heightwise of the last and for thereafter substantially releasingthe upper from the pressure of the retarder after the wipers have begunbut before they have completed the wiping of the upper inwardly.

19. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over an insoleon the last, a retarder for clamping the upper on the wipers as theupper is thus wiped heightwise of the last and inwardly over the insole,a device for controlling said retarder, a spring arranged to act throughsaid device to press the retarder on the upper, means arranged to actfrictionally on said device to reduce the pressure of the retarder onthe upper when the wipers have substantially completed the wiping of theupper heightwise of the last and to continue such reduction of pressureas the wipers begin to wipe the upper inwardly, and additional means forsubstantially releasing the upper from the pressure of the retarderbefore the wipers have completed the wiping of the upper over theinsole.

20. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last heightwise of the last and for then wiping its margininwardly over an insoleon the last and against a lip on the insole, aretarder for clamping the marginal portion of the upper outspread on thewipers as the upper is thus wiped heightwise of the last and inwardlyover the insole, and automatic -means for reducing the pressure of theretarder on the upper when the wipers have substantially completed thewiping of the upper heightwise of the last and for thereaftersubstantially releasing the upper from the pressure of the retarderafter the wipers have begun to wipe the upper inwardly but beforethey'have pressed it against the lip of the insole.

21. In a lasting machine wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last heightwise of the last and for then wiping its margininwardly over an insole on the last and against a lip on the insole, aretarder for clamping the marginal portion of the upper outspread on thewipers as the upper is thus wiped heightwise of the last and inwardlyover the insole, a device mounted for turning movement to press theretarder on the upper, a spring for thus turning said device, a memberalso mounted for turning movement and arranged-to act frictionally onsaid device to reduce the pressure of the retarder on the upper when thewipers have substantially completed the wiping of the upper heightwiseof the last and to continue such reduction of pressure as the wipersbegin to wipe the upper inwardly, and means arranged to turn with saidmember and to act on said device to release the upper substantially fromthe pressure of the retarder before the wipers have pressed the upperagainst the lip of the insole.

22. In a lasting machine, wipers movable to wipe the marginal portion ofthe toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a. retarderfor clamping the marginal portion of the upper on the wipers to controlit in the wiping operation, and controlling means for pressing saidretarder on the upper and for thereafter automatically releasing theupper substantially from the pressure of the retarder in predeterminedtime relation to the movement of the wipers, said controlling meansbeing adjustable to vary relatively to the movement of the wipers thetime of such release of the upper.

23. In a lasting machine, wipers movable to wipe the marginal portion ofthe toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a retarderfor clamping the marginal portion of the upper on the wipers to controlit in the wiping operation, and controlling means for pressing saidretarder on the upper and for thereafter automatically releasing theupper substantially from the pressure of the retarder in predeterminedtime relation to the movement of the wipers, said controlling meansincluding lost-motion mechanism for varying in accordance with theamount of lost motion the time of such release of the upper relativelyto the movement of the wipers.

24. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over an insoleon the last, a retarder for clamping the marginal portion of the upperon the wipers as the upper i thus wiped heightwise of the last andinwardly by the wipers, and controlling means for pressing said retarderon the upper and for thereafter automatically releasing the uppersubstantially from the pressure of the retarder before the wipers havecompleted the wiping of the upper inwardly over the insole, saidcontrolling means being adjustable to vary relatively to the operationsof the wipers the time when the retarder becomes effective to press theupper on the wipers and the time of such release of the upper frompressure. i

25. In a lasting machine, Wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over an insoleon the last, a retarder for clamping the marginal portion of the upperon the wipers as the upper is thus wiped heightwise of the last andinwardly by the wipers, and controlling means for pressing said retarderon the upper and for thereafter automatically releasing the uppersubstantially from the pressure of the retarder before the wipers havecompleted the wiping of the upper inwardly over the insole, saidcontrolling means being adjustable to vary relatively to the wiping ofthe upper heightwise of the last the time when the retarder becomeseffective to press the upper on the wipers and including mechanism forvarying automatically the time of the release of the upper from pressurein accordance with variations in the time when the retarder thus becomeseffective on the upper.

26. In a lasting machine, toe-lasting wipers movable heightwise of alast and movable thereafter to wipe the marginal portion of an upperinwardly over an insole on the last, a retarder for clamping the upperon the wipers to apply a pull to the upper as the wipers are movedheightwise of the last and thereafter to control the upper as it iswiped inwardly by the wipers, and controlling means for pressing saidretarder on the upper and for thereafter automatically releasing theupper substantially from the pressure of the retarder before the Wipershave completed the wiping of the upper inwardly over the insole, saidcontrolling means being adjustable to advance or delay relatively to themovement of the wipers heightwise of the last the time when the retarderbecomes effective to press the upper on the wipers and includingautomatic mechanism for correspondingly delaying and advancingrespectively as a result of such adjustment the time of the release ofthe upper from the pressure of the retarder.

27. In a lasting machine, toe-lasting wipers movable heightwise of alast and movable thereafter to wipe the marginal portion of an upperinwardly over an insole on the last, a retarder for clamping the upperon the wipers to apply a pull to the upper as the wipers are movedheightwise of the last and thereafter to control the upper as it iswiped inwardly by the wipers, a member movable heightwise of the last topress the retarder on the upper and reversely movable thereafterheightwise of the last to release the upper substantially from thepressure of the retarder, and operating means for thus moving saidmember, said member being adjustable heightwise of the last relativelyto said operating means.

28. In a lasting machine, toe-lasting wipers movable heightwise of alast and movable thereafter to wipe the marginal portion of an upperinwardly over an insole on the last, a retarder for clamping the upperon the wipers to apply a pull to the upper as the wipers are movedheightwise of the last and thereafter to control the upper as it iswiped inwardly by the wipers, a member movable heightwise of the last topress the retarder on the upper and reversely movable thereafterheightwise of the last to release the upper substantially from thepressure of the retarder, a controlling device mounted for turningmovements thus to move said member in opposite directions heightwise ofthe last, a spring for turning said device in the direction to press theretarder on the upper, a power-operated member movable fixed distancesin opposite directions to release said device to the action of thespring and to return it against the resistance of the springrespectively, and means for adjusting said first-named member indirections heightwise of the last relatively to said controlling device.

29. In a lasting machine, wipers movable to wipe the marginal portion ofthe toe end of an upper inwardly over an insole on a last, a retarderfor clamping the marginal portion of the upper on the wipers tocontrol'it in the wiping operation, and controlling means for pressingsaid retarder on the upper and for thereafter releasing the uppersubstantially from the pressure of the retarder at a time relatively tothe movement of the wipers automatically variable in accordance with thethickness of the upper materials.

30. In a lasting machine, toe-lasting wipers movable heightwise of alast and movable thereafter to wipe the marginal portion of an upperinwardly over an insole on the last, a retarder for clamping the upperon the wipers to apply a pull to the upper as the wipers are movedheightwise of the last and thereafter to control the upper as it iswiped. inwardly by the wipers,

and controlling means for pressing said retarder on the upper at a timerelatively to the movement of the wipers heightwise of the lastautomatically variable in accordance with the thickness of the uppermaterials, said controlling means including mechanism for thereafterautomatically releasing the upper substantially from the pressure of theretarder at a time in the wiping of the upper inwardly over the insolevariable in accordance with variations in the time when the retarder isthus pressed on the upper.

31. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last into lasted position, a retarder for clamping the upperon the wipers in the wiping operation, means supporting said retarder,and additional means supported independently of the retarder and movableheightwise of the last into engagement with it to press it on the upper.

32. In a lasting machine, wipers for Wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last into lasted position, a retarder arranged to clamp theupper on the wipers around the end and along the sides of the toe, meanssupporting said retarder by engaging it in a location spaced lengthwiseof the last from the end of the toe, and mechanism including a membermovable heightwise of the last into engagement with the portion of theretarder at the end of the toe to press the retarder on the upper.

33. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last into lasted position, a substantially U-shaped retarderarranged to clamp the upper 0n the wipers around the end and along thesides of the toe,

toe-end portion of an upper on a last into lasted position, a retarderfor clampin the upper on the wipers at the end and the sides of the toein the wiping operation, and means for forcing portions of the retarderat the sides of the toe heightwis of the last toward the wipers toincrease the pressure of those portions 0n the upper in response tofrictional drag of the upper on the portion of the retarder at the endof the toe.

35. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last into lasted position, a retarder for clamping the upperon the wipers at the end andthe sides of the toe in the wipingoperation, and a device supporting said retarder by engaging it in alocation spaced lengthwise of the last from the end of the toe, saiddevice being movable to force portions of the retarder at the sides ofthe toe heightwise of the last toward the wipers to increase thepressure of those portions on the upper in response to frictional dragof the upper on the portion of the retarder at the end of the toe.

36. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last into lasted position, a retarder for clamping the upperon the wipers at the end and the sides of the toe in the wipingoperation, and a device supporting said retarder by engaging it in alocation spaced lengthwise of the last from the end of the toe, saiddevice being mounted for swinging movement heightwise of the last toincrease the pressure of the portions of the retarder at the sides ofthe toe on the upper in response to frictional drag of the upper on theportion of th retarder at the end of the toe.

37. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last into lasted position, a retarder for clamping the upperon the wipers at the end and the sides of the toe in the wipingoperation, a device on which said retarder is pivotally mounted forswinging movement heightwise of the last in a location spaced lengthwiseof the last from the end of the toe, and means for pressing the retarderon the upper at the end of the toe, said device being mounted forswinging movement heightwise of the last to increase the pressure of theportions of the retarder at the sides of the toe on the upper inresponse to frictional drag of the upper 0n the portion of the retarderat the end of the toe.

38. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on the last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over aninsole on the last, a, retarder for clamping the marginal portion of theupper on the wipers as the upper is thus wiped heightwise of the lastand inwardly by the wipers, said retarder being arranged to press theupper on the wipers first at the end of the toe in an inclined relationto the wipers and being mounted for swinging movement heightwise of thelast toward parallel relation to the wipers for thereafter pressing theupper on the wipers also at the sides of the toe in the course of thewiping operation.

39. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on. a last heightwise of the last and then inwardly over an insoleon the last, a substantially U-shaped retarder for clamping the marginalportion of the upper on the wipersas the upper is thus wiped heightwiseof the last and inwardly by the wipers, means supporting said retarderby the ends of its arms for swinging movement heightwise of the last,and means for rendering the retarder effective on the upper first at theend of the toe in inclined relation to the wipers, the retarder beingmovable toward parallel relation to the wipers in the wiping of theupper heightwise of the last for pressing the upper on the wipers alsoat the sides of the toe.

40. In a lasting machine, toe-lasting wipers movable heightwise of alast and movable thereafter to wipe the marginal portion of an upperinwardly over an insole on the last, a substantially U-shaped retarderfor clamping the marginal portion of the upper on the wipers to apply apull to the upper as the wipers are moved heightwise of the last andthereafter to control the upper as it is wiped inwardly by the wipers,and means supporting said retarder by the ends of its arms for swingingmovement heightwise of the last from an initial inclined relation to thewipers toward parallel relation thereto in response to the movement ofthe wipers heightwise of the last, said supporting means being movableto carry the ends of said arms heightwise of the last toward the wipersin the course of that movement of the wipers.

41. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of theupper on a last into lasted relation to an insole on the last, aholddown device for engaging the toe end of the insole, a substantiallyU-shaped retarder supported by the ends of its arms on said holddowndevice for clamping the upper on the wipers in the wiping operation, anda support from which said device and retarder are detachable as a unitto permit different holddown devices and corresponding retarders to beused in operating on shoes of different styles or sizes.

42. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last into lasted relation to an insole on the last and forpressing the marginal portion of the upper against a lip on the insole,a member arranged to engage the toe end of the insole and to supportsaid lip against the pressure of the wipers around the end and along thesides of the toe, a retarder supported on said member for clamping theupper on the wipers in the wiping operation, and a support from whichsaid member and retarder are detachable as a unit to permit differentmembers and corresponding retarders to be used in operating on shoes ofdifferent styles or sizes.

43. In a lasting machine, wipers for wiping the toe-end portion of anupper on a last into lasted relation to an insole on the last, aholddown device for engaging the toe end of the insole, a support fromwhich said device is detachable to permit different devices to be usedin operating on shoes of difierent styles or sizes, latch mechanismmovable to release said device from its support, and a retarder forclamping the upper on the wipers in the wiping operation,

the retarder being supported on said holddown device for detachment withit.

FRED C. EASTMAN.

